Flood recovery group hosts open day at new hub in South Lismore

RESILIENT Lismore hosted an open day at its new facility to showcase its ongoing work supporting essential flood recovery programs across the region.

After three years operating from its Keen Street hub in the CBD, the volunteer group is now based on Casino Street in South Lismore.

The move marks a new chapter in its long-term recovery and preparedness efforts following the 2022 floods.

The group has also reopened its free tool library, which has supported hundreds of repair jobs since the disaster.

Executive director Elly Bird said the Keen Street base had become a vital community anchor.

“Our Keen Street Hub has been a place of support, connection, and hope during some of the toughest years our community has ever faced,” she said.

“It has provided a central, welcoming space for the coordination of our Two Rooms and Repair to Return program, which has delivered more than 750 repair jobs to support flood-damaged homes across the Northern Rivers.”

Over the past three years, the group accepted more than 40,000 donations and facilitated 3000 tool loans.

It connected more than 2000 people to vital services, coordinated 577 volunteers who contributed 25,256 hours valued at $4.8 million, and brokered $900,000 in support for those in need.

“We are so grateful to everyone who has visited, volunteered, partnered, or shared a cuppa with us at Keen Street. You’ve helped make it such a special home,” Bird said.

“Our new location will help us continue to support disaster recovery and preparedness programs, keeping our community at the heart of everything we do, and we have a lot of work planned through to 2027.”

The Repair to Return program will continue this year, delivering at least 80 additional essential home repairs across the Northern Rivers thanks to support from GIVIT and the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

Resilient Lismore also operates a Building Advisory Support Service, offering free one-on-one assistance to homeowners referred through the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Resilient Homes Program.

Resilient Lismore will host a Community Picnic Day at Nesbitt Park on Saturday, February 28.